Carriage mechanism for computing-machines.



UTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 1916. Patented p 9 3 SHEET$SHEET 1.

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0. momma ANISM FOR COMPU APPLICATION FILED HAY29. I916- TING MACHINES.

CARRIAGE MECH Patented Apr. 29,1919.

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0. 0.1'0HANTGEN- CARRIAGE MECHANISM Fm: COMPUTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 191 6.

1 ,301 ,942. Patented A pr. '29, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

JNVENTOR. Qizaizfye g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER D. JOHANTGEN,,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB, IBY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

' TO VICTOR ADDING MACHINE CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CARRIAGE MECHANISM FOR COMPUTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application Med Kay 29 1918. Serial No. 100,531.

to carriage mechanism containing an accumulator or register, a platen and associated parts.

. The mechanism illustrated herein is adapted for use withvarious different computing machines, the embodiment of the invention shown however, belng articularly adapted for use with a ten key a ding and listing machine illustrated in my co-pending a plication Serial Number 100530, filed ay 29, 1916. In said application a complete machine is illustrated, but the carriage mechani'sm and associated parts are not claimed therein, being claimed inthe present application.

To operate the machine, the operator depresses digit keys which' position a single combined accumulator actuating rack and type rack. The carriage is moved transversely across the machine with a step by step movement as the. keys are actuate whereby said rackis engaged successively by the accumulator wheels. The rack which is elevated, a variable amount by the depression of the difierent keys, turns the accumulator wheels and immediately thereafter is thrown rearwardly, striking against the platen to print the digits of the item, one

at a time. In the embodiment of the invent-ion herein illustrated, the keys may be depressed in the order corresponding to the natural order in which the digits are read, namely, from left to right. To permit this operation, the carriage is first manually moved to the right by the operator by means of a lever having keys thereon which determine the extent of said throw of the lever and'hence sto the carriage in a position corresponding to the digit of the highest order. The carriage thereafter moves from right to left, step by step, to the position corresponding to the digit of the lowest order. If the machine is designed for operators accustomed to set the item backward,

that is, from right to left, the escapement mechanism and certain associated parts, may be reversed to permit operation of the carriage in the reverse direction.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top lan view thereof, 1

Figs. 3 and 4 show details of the subtrac tion key mechanism;

Figs. 5 and 6 show the accumulator and carrying mechanism in two different positions;

Fig. nism in the lower part of the carriage.

Fig. 8 is 'a perspective view of a bell crank lever; I

gig. 9 is an elevation of a carrying plate; an

Fig. 10 is a top plan view thereof. I

The accumulator carriage comprises a air of side plates 10, 11, connected by various transverse members hereinafter referred to. A cover plate 12 is arranged at the front of the carriage which. extends upwardly and partially over the top, being provided with a sight opening 13 through which the numeral wheels are visible. A bottom plate '14 is secured to said side plates, which are connected also at their rear b a transverse plate 15 carrying a stud 16 with a roller or pulley 17 mounted thereon. The carriage is supported at its rear end' by means of said Patented Apr. 29, 1919. 1

7 is a top plan view ofthe mecharoller which rides along a cross rod 18 mounted at opposite ends in brackets 19 secured to the body 20 of the machine, said rod ,passing through openings 21 in the side plates 10,11, and clearing the latter. The

forward portion of the carriage is supported on a yoke 22 associated with suitable escapement mechanism located in the body of the machine, whereby said carriage is given a step by step movement across the machine. It is moved in the op osite direction by a manually operated setting lever 23, pivoted to the body of the machine at 24. A.

The accumulator orregister is actuated b a rack 25 which rack is reciprocated or di ferentially positioned in a vertical direction by key actuated mechanism in the body of the machine. It may also be moved forward and backward slightly by a printing lever 26 which has sliding engagement therewith by means of a stud 27 and slot 28. "Said.

-ment with some oneof a lock the carria e a ainst movement and to V a; .a-

perform other functions to be described. As

the rack is being elevated, it s in engagewheels constituting part of the accumulator, and mounted on a shaft 31, the latter being carried in a pair of arms- 32 mounted to turn about a pair of studs 33, 34, secured to the-side plates 10, 11.- Said idler wheels,-

esh with a series.

as shownin Fig. 1, are in m of gear wheels or totalizer wheels 35 ImountQ ed on a shaft 36. 'Each totalizer wheel has a numeralwheel 37 arranged to turn there 1 with. Said numeral wheels are adjacent to .38 thereby.

register wheels' and'numeral.wheels.

\ registenwheels, 38.

- wheel's completes its engages a finger42 mounted on' a shaft 46 and normally held arm 45. This prevents small angle. by th register wheels 38,

the previously, mentioned sight opening. A

series ofregisterwheels 38 supported on a shaft 39 ares-also arranged in engagement withthe totalizer wheels 35. If the arms 32 are swung. downwardly through a small angle," the idlers '30 will be moved out of mesh with the totalizer wheels'35 and moved into ineshwithithe register wheels 38. This latter is the subtraction position, in .which' rotation of the idlers 30. by the rack will be communicated directly to the registerwheels reversing. v the re The carrying, is effected by collars 40 eacli having lar being arranged to turn with one of the Whenever onegbf said substantially T:-shaped carrying, plate 43.

of the spaces between the each is pivoted on a stud 44 on'an arm 45 in the position shown'by 'a spring 46's. The end of the'finger 42 is cut "away, .as shown betweenithe teethof the adjacent register wheel; t e one above the one shown in Fig.

1. The pbsition of the plate 43 with respect to the arm 45' is maintained by small rectifying lever 47- pivotally mounted on the arm 45 and'held against the flat head of the by a spring 48 shown. Said T-plate tends to remain in the position shown but when swung about its pivot 44 through a e carrying tooth 41, it advancesthe next wheel 38 an amount corresponding to one point 49' of the T said gear, (Fig. 6); I 35, which are. always in mesh with these are thereby advanced by this carrying action.

ing lever 47 which strikes a stop 49" on the complete rotation of the T-p-late. It-will be noted that the operationisthe' same regardless of'the direction of rotation of my; ear 32, ex'cept 'tl1at series of idler tation "of the a; single tooth 41 thereon, each. col

rotation; the tooth 41' a cross rod 52' carried by a pair constitutingpart of a V ere are a series of such plates, one in each wheels, 38 and =54. The f tooth, .further rotation be ng prevented by the engagement of the with one of the teeth on The totalizer Wheels" described; 'plate 62 is to movethe' printing lever.26' The angular move-' ment of said finger is limited by the rectify- 'eral movement by rack 25 rearwardly,

.ment, but .as-soon as saidfinger. is moved of the register-wheels 38, z

out of radial alinementby the carrying tooth 41, the spring 46 throws the .the finger 42 rearwardly, thereby completing by the tripthe carrying movement begun ping of the finger 42 by the-tooth 41.

Theefiect of the spring 48 on the rectifying 1ever'47 is to tend to restore the T-plate to} finger, to

normal position and to permitv the 7 act as a spring lock to resist rotation o'f'the register wheels,- When in normal position.

Such return to normal position however, if

permitted would rotate gears 30, 35, 38. Said rotation therefore isopposed-bythe pawl 50 which is held Said .T plates may be restoredto normal position however, if the arms 45 on which ghey fare mounted are moved. forwardly. uch' infrictional engage v 'In'ent with the Wheel 35 by the spring 51;.

orward movement is accomplished by of pivoted arms 53 which a y"mounteaon the shaft 46 on carrying devices. -Theylower ends ofsaid ,pposite sides of'the grou f arms53 are'connec'ted by a second cross bar;

latter engaging the and swinging the same for- .pivot, (Fig. 7). Said lever is moved'by a stud 58 which projects downwardly through orward movement of said cross bars is effected by means of a lever 55 which is pivoted about the stud 56 and carries a grooved roller 57, the cross bar 54 wardly as the lever 55 rotates about its slot 60 in the'ca'rriage setting lever Prior to the time'the stud 58 reaches the end of the slot 59, the shoulder' 60"011 said arm engages a pin 61 on a plate 62'w-hich is-mounted to reciprocate on the base, plate 14 of the is guided by pins 63, 64 secured to said base .plate an'd projectingthrough slots 65, 66

therein. .It also has a notch 67 adapted to receive the lower end of a latch hereinafter The general function of said out of the notches 68 in the rear of the base carriage. Said plate riage which is otherwise locked against lla'tnotches. Movement ofs'aid lever moves the thereby withdrawing it said. lever and said from engagementwith the idlers30 whereby the carriage may be moved laterally without limit the throw said carriage.

interference between said rack and said idlers. As the carriage setting lever is moved laterally by the operator, the arm 55 is first swung to the limit of movement permitted by the slot 59 after which the carriage as a whole travels laterally.

In a machine where it is desired to enter the item by depressing the digit keys in their natural order, namely from left to right, and the carriage is therefore to be moved from right to left, the following mechanism is provided:

mounted on the under side of the carriage,-

4 thereby positively locking the carriage and the lever against further movement. The

carriage is thus swung to the position corresponding to the highest order of the item to be registered, and'thereafter the depression of the digit keys operates the escapement mechanism, whereby the successive idler wheels 30 are brought into mesh with the rack sem'atz'm until the carriage-reaches its initial position.

If the machine is to be constructed tov er mit the item to be entered from right to eft, the denominational keys may be omitted and the escapement mechanism and setting lever reversed whereby the carriage may move from left to right as the operator depresses the digit keys, and may subsequently be restored to normal position by said lever or some other manually operated device.

To effect subtraction, thesubtraction key is pressed rearwardly. Said key is mounted on a stud 81 in the frame of the .machine and also on a stud 82 mounted in a .member83, the latter being pivoted, about the stud 84. Said studs 81, 82 passthrough suitable slots85, 86 in said key. A link 87 is also mounted on said studs and hasa slot 88 at one end, a little shorter than the companion slot 85, and having a hole 89 in the opposite end. It also has a downwardly projecting lock 90. IA latch 91 having the form of'a bell crank lever is mounted adj a.- cent said key on a'stud 92, the lower end of said latch fitting within the notch 67 in, the

reciprocating plate 62 (Fig. 7). Said latch 91 has a lateral projection 93 thereon which is arranged in the path of a projection 94 on the subtraction key. The rear end of said projection 94 is beveled, whereby as said subtraction key is pressed rearwardly, said bevel rides over the lateral projection 93 thereby rocking the latch. and moving the plate 62 and the printing lever 26 to the rear, thus movin the rack 25 out of engagement with the id ers 30, which engagement would interfere with the swinging of said idlers to subtraction position.

Prior to the actuation of the subtraction key 80, the link 87 is in its forward position with its projection in front of the lateral extension 93. This looks the member 83' against movement, thereby preventing accidental movement of the accumulator from ward movement, the stud 82 is engaged by the end of the slot 86 rocking the member 83 and drawing the link 87 to the rear un'til its projection 90 is to the rear of the lug 93, at which time the accumulator gears have been moved to subtraction position. Simultaneously the projection 94 snaps over'the lug 93 thereby permitting the .plate 62 to restore the latch 91 to normal position, the subtraction key being thereby locked against return movement by the projection 93.

The spring 96 tends to hold the parts in addition position unless they are positively locked in subtraction position. After the item has been subtracted, the operator before setting up another item for addition, swings the carriage setting lever to one side as previously described, thereby moving the The platen and ribbon feed mechanism may be of any suitable construction, the following mechanism being suitable for the purpose: The platen '100 is mounted on the shaft 101, which shaft carries also a ratchet 102 actuated by the pawl 103. Said pawl is secured to a plate 104 which is mounted on the shaft 105 and is connected to a link 106, thelatter being connected at its opposite end to the cross bar 52 and drawn rearwardly by a spring 107. It will be seen that whenever the setting lever is operated, the platen is advanced by the pawl and rachet one tooth. The reciprocating movement of the, bar 106 also operates an additional pawl 108' and rachet 109- for advancing the two color ribbon 110. The-ribbon is mounted on the spools 111, 112, and is folded across guides so addition to subtraction position, such as as it is engaged by said rack. a

' to be limited to the 113.' When the subtrav tionqkeyis pushed inwardly, the guide is ,raisc'c'l, being a part of the plate 11 which is connected to the member 83. This elevates the ribbon to,

present the red half to the printing lever; The roll of paper may be supported on suitable brackets, said paper being passed around the platen in the usual manner and held thereto byspring-pressed vfeed rolls 115.

It is apparent that many of. the various mechanisms herein described ent of other parts of the apparatus, and ma r'ioiis equivalent, devices may be substituted therefor. .In general, the invention is not variousdetails and rela-- 1e parts specified, except where limitations appear-in the flap tlve arrangenient' of ti pended claims.

cla1m- I '1. In a carriage mechanism,- a SBI'IBSV of accumulator Wheels,

a single actuating. rack therefor, spring locks for said 'wheels, 'and means associated with saidfracjkarranged to render inoperative thelock-"of .ea'ch' wheel In a carriage mechanism, a series of ac cumulator wheels, a single actuating rack therefor, a plurality of pivoted supports each-having a spring lock to lock said wheels-rind a printing levercooperating with said rack and arranged to throw it out of engagement with said accumulator, said lever being arranged to engage each of said pivoted supports as said rectifying lever pivoted to each of said arms, a finger on each of StUCl armsnorma-lly held between the teeth of the corresponding wheel'by said rectifying lever, and a spring for eacharm, holding said position, each arm being moved to withdraw "said finger fronrits wheel by engagement I therewith of said projection.

LA carriage mechanism comprising an accumulator .and a platen, a reciprocable member having teeth on one side to engage said accumulator andtype on the other side to strike said platen, a printing lever for guiding said rack and moving it from out of engagement with said accumulator toward said platen, means on said carriage for lockframe, are independbe used'in other combinations, or va plate,

.tainmg an accumulator, .nism and pivoted mean'son which saidsingle actuating f accumulator, means for lock-' thereon arranged rendering inoperaengaged by a projecparts in normal ing it to said lever to prevent movement of v a pivoted lever having a loose said carriage,

said carriage whereby it connection with may-'move said carriage laterally after a certain initial movement thereof, and means on said carriage coiiperat ng with said lever from said first lever. v

5. ALcarr'iage mechanism comprising a a transverse member having slots therein, a reciprocable rack, a; printing lever associated therewith, said lever fittingwithin said slotsfto' lock. said slidable'with respect to sa d notches to un-. I I I said. arm projecting throughasl'ot'in said member, and a pivoted lever for moving saidc'arriage, said pin engaging said lever whereby'th lock said carriage,

, an arm for moving a pin on said subsequent riage'.

6. In an adding machine, a carriage conmechan'ism is rack for. said ing said carriage tosaid rack, and manual mounted, a

din-ing said initial movement to .unlock it e initial swingof the latter serves-to unlock said carriage, --and aswing thereof to move said cara transfer mecha carriage, a plate means for unlocking said carriage and subsequently'" moving the latter, said means serving also to disengage 'said' transfer mechanism from said accumulator.

7. vIn a carriage mechanism,v an accumulator consisting of idler wheels, numeral i wheels and register wheels, transfer fingers normally locking -,=said register iwheels, a rack normally engaging said idler each of said fingersseriatz'm prior to the engagement of said rack with said idlers to unlock said register Wheels.

8. A accumulator consisting of suitable ing rods, and a series of idler Wheels, wheels and register wheels mounted on said rods, means pivotally siipporting said idler Wheels rod whereby said Wheels may be moved into and register wheels means for manually moving said. carriage laterally, and

out of engagement with said wheels, and means cooperating with said rack and carriage mechanism comprising an support-- numeral to provide for subtraction,

means cooperating with said subtraction mechanism and said last means {for restoring said mechanism to position after each manual adjustment of said carriage laterally.

:addling I .120 v e combination with a carriage, of a support therefor, a carriage lever'pivoted on said support, denominat1onal keys on said lever and a stop lever on said support-arranged to be engaged by said keys and to en gage said carriage to limit the movement of key sethe, latter in accordance with the lected.

10. The combination with a carriage, .ofa .of sa1dcarriage is sup- .130

bar on which one end 'mine the movement of said carriage.

11. In an accumulator mechanism comprising register wheels, a series of carrying fingers no'rmallyengaging said wheels, a rack arranged to engage the accumulator wheels successively and means controlled by said rack for moving any finger out of con- 'tact withthe wheel engaged by said rack.

12. In an accumulator mechanism com- I prising register wheels, a series of carrying ngers normally engaging said wheels, a rack arranged to engage .the accumulator wheels successively, a printing lever for said-L rack having a pro ect1on thereon, and arms arranged to be engaged b said projection, said arms carrying said ngers out of engagement with said register wheels.

13. A carriage mechanism comprising an accumulator, a transfer mechanism operative either for addition or subtraction, supporting means for said transfer mechanism whereby it may be moved out of operative engagement with said accumulator, said transfer mechanism serving also tolock said accumulator against rotation when in operative connection therewith, a single rack arranged to engage the successive wheels of said accumulator, "and means associated with said rack for moving it into and out of engagement with saidaccumulator, said means serving to lock said carriage against movement when said rack is in engagement with any of said accumulator wheels and serving also to move said transfer mechanism out of operative engagement with the correspond ing wheels of the accumulator.

14. In combination, a series of numeral wheels, a supportin shaft therefor, gears mounted on said she t, a second shaft having register gears thereon engagin said numeral gears, a third shaft r'nounte eccentrically with respect; to either of said first shafts,

idler gears thereon arranged to engage either said numeral gears or said register ears, whereby a reverse rotation may be e ected to permit addition or subtraction, a rack arranged to engage said idler gears in succession, yielding means en agin said numeral gears to resist rotation t ereo carrying fingers constituting spring latches engagin said register gears to normally hold all 0 said gears against rotation, and means rendered operative b the engagement of said rack with said id er gears for withdrawing said spring latches from operative relation with said register gears to permit rotation of all of said gears, said spring latches after being moved tol carrying position tending to return to normal position and thus to move said gears, said movement being resisted by said yielding means, the resistance ofthe latter being overcome by said rack during the operation thereof;

15. Incombination, an accumulator, having numeral wheels, a register having wheels in engagement therewith, idlers, a pivoted support therefor permitting engagement of said idlers either with said numeral wheels or with said'register wheels to permit addition or subtraction, a rack turning said idlers in the same direction either for addition or subtraction, a subtraction key for moving said idlers, a transfer mechanism associated with said register wheels and operative in either direction, a latch for locking said subtraction key in subtraction position, a movable frame on which said accumulator is mounted, means cotiperating with said rack to lock said frame against movement, said latch serving to disengage said rack from said idlers.

16. In combination, an accumulator, an

actuator therefor, pivoted arms for changing the relativearrangement of the gears of said accumulator to permit addition and subtraction, a pivoted member for operating said arms, a subtraction key having a loose con- 1 nection with said member, a link also connected with said member and arranged adjacent to said subtraction key, and a latch cooperating both with said subtraction key and with" said link, and serving to lock said mechanism in addition or subtraction posi tion, said link insuring proper engagement and disengagement of said actuator and said accumulator.

17. A carriage mechanism comprising a frame, a locking plate having slots therein, a rec1 stu s on the former received within slots in the latter to guide its movement, a pivoted arm on said locking plate having a shoulder, a pin on said reciprocating plate engaged by said shoulder to move said plate so as to cover said slots, a roller on said pivoted arm, an accumulator in saidcarriage having a transfer mechanism, means associated with said transfer mechanism engaged by said roller for restoring said mechanism to normal position after operation thereof, and

serving to lock said mechanism in addition orisubtraction position, a carriage in which rocating plate on said locking plate, 

